Parents' Willingness to Pay for Coeliac Disease Screening of Their Child

• Published in: Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 452 - 459
• Main Authors: Norström, Fredrik, Ivarsson, Anneli, Lindholm, Lars, Carlsson, Annelie, Danielsson, Lars, Högberg, Lotta, Karlsson, Eva, Löfgren, Curt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Copyright by ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN 01.04.2011; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Celiac Disease - blood; Celiac Disease - diagnosis; Celiac Disease - economics; Child; children; Clinical Medicine; coeliac disease; Costs and Cost Analysis; cost–benefit analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Status; Family Health; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fees and Charges; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Health Expenditures; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Status; Humans; Income; Klinisk medicin; Male; Mass Screening - economics; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Other diseases. Semiology; Parents - psychology; Pediatrics; Pediatrik; Schools; screening; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; willingness to pay; Sweden; Human; Immunopathology; screening; willingness to pay; Parent; Metabolic diseases; cost―benefit analysis; Cost benefit analysis; Medical screening; Coeliac disease; Intestinal malabsorption; children; Gastroenterology; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Child
• ISSN: 0277-2116; 1536-4801; 1536-4801
• DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3182037efd

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study is to determine Swedish parents' willingness to pay (WTP) for coeliac disease (CD) screening of their child. Subjects and Methods: CD screening was undertaken involving 10,041 12‐year‐old children, with 7567 (75%) agreeing to participate. Blood samples from the children were analysed for CD serological markers. Parents received a questionnaire including a scenario describing the health‐related risks of having CD and screening and diagnostic procedures. Parents were also asked whether they were willing to pay for CD screening, should this not be offered free of charge, and, if so, what their maximum WTP would be. Their WTP was compared with the average cost per child for the screening and case ascertainment procedures. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 6524 parents, and of 6057 valid responses 63% stated that they were willing to pay something. The mean WTP was 79 EUR and the median 10 EUR. The average cost per child for the screening and case ascertainment procedures was 47 EUR, which 23% of the parents stated they were willing to pay. Parents' WTP increased with higher education and income, and with child symptoms that may indicate CD. Conclusions: Swedish parents' WTP for school‐based CD screening of their child was higher than the average cost per child; however, only a minority of the parents were willing to pay that amount.